You know reaching out to help people in need makes them feel good, but award-winning poet and author Dr. Maya Angelou reveals why it can help you in ways you can't even imagine.

We've been told, "It's often more blessed to give than to receive." And it might sound very strange, but the truth is, the person who receives gets the thing, but the person who gives gets the bigger blessing—your heart expands. If you do that, I promise you, you will never be the same.

It's really very simple. To me, charity means, "I have more than I need, and you seem to have less than you need. Please accept some of my overflow." It can be a smile, it can be a pat on the back—it may be just saying, "Good morning!" to someone, or "You know, that's a beautiful color on you." You have no idea if that person has just hung up the phone from having a nurse say, "Well, we were wrong. The test is positive." You never know. Having a charitable heart can be even more powerful than giving money.

Young women can be so involved with themselves, sometimes you don't see that there is a bigger world out there. You might think, No one understands me. You are still being formed as a woman, so try to have patience with yourself. That's how you can be charitable to yourself.

The secret to getting through it all isn't to look inward—it's looking outward. Collect magazines from your house, cut the address off, take them to the hospital, and say, "I have one hour a week, and I could read to some children, if you like." You have no idea how much that will affect you. It makes you feel good because it made someone else feel better. It reminds you that you are not the only person here on this plain and on this planet.

It's important to constantly ask yourself to do more than you've done before—try to stretch! Not just physically—stretch your mind! If you are a B student, stretch yourself to get an A. If you are an A student, help somebody else to get an A! Try to reach for something that is almost unattainable, and if you stretch a little more, you can reach it.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Finding what makes you you is truly the best way to help people in this world. When you do, you begin to understand that human beings are more alike than we are unalike. You realize that what makes you weep is the same thing that makes another person weep. You can't just say, "Oh, I don't understand this person." You do understand, and you have a responsibility. You have one to yourself and one to your fellow human being. And once you know that, I think you're more ready to be of help.

Start by finding something about yourself that is nice. Now if you have beautiful hair, that's good. If you have a nice figure, that's good, but try to find something inside yourself you really like. You may have a good sense of humor, or you may be kind to children. Try to find something that you already are—not that you wish to be. Whatever it is, find it and put it around your neck like a necklace, like a string of pearls. That will make you shine!